Grammar: ⚙️ Verbs in Depth: 🎭 Modals & 🌱 Non-Finite Verbs (Advanced) (B2) - Lesson 7: Verbs of Perception + object + infinitive/-ing (see him run / see him running)

✨ Lesson 7: Verbs of Perception (see him run / see him running)

Today we are learning a specific pattern that follows verbs of perception¹—verbs related to our five senses, like see, watch, hear, listen to, feel, and notice. When these verbs are followed by an object and another verb, the form of the second verb can change the meaning of the sentence.

The Difference: Complete Action vs. Action in Progress

The choice between using a base infinitive² (the verb without 'to') or a present participle³ (-ing form) depends on whether you witnessed the whole action or only part of it.

Verb of Perception + Object + Base Infinitive

This structure implies that you saw or heard the complete action⁴ from beginning to end.

"I saw the boy jump over the fence." (I saw him go from one side completely to the other.)
"We watched the circus performers perform three amazing tricks." (We saw all three tricks from start to finish.)

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Verb of Perception + Object + Present Participle (-ing)

This structure implies you saw or heard an action in progress⁵. You saw it 'in the middle' of happening, but not necessarily from start to finish.

"When I looked out the window, I saw the boy jumping over the fence." (I saw him in the middle of the act of jumping.)
"As we passed the classroom, we could hear the students singing." (We heard them while they were in the middle of their song.)

A Note on the Passive Voice

This structure has a special change in the passive voice. The base infinitive becomes a full infinitive (to + verb).

Active: "We saw him leave the building."
Passive: "He was seen to leave the building." (NOT: ...was seen leave)

Active: "We saw him leaving the building."
Passive: "He was seen leaving the building." (The -ing form does not change.)

🧠 Practice Quiz: Complete or In Progress?

Choose the correct verb form based on the meaning of the sentence.

1. I sat on the beach and watched the sun _______ over the horizon. It was beautiful. (set / setting)
   Answer: set (This implies you watched the complete action from start to finish.)
2. As I walked past the cafe, I could hear a band _______ my favorite song. (play / playing)
   Answer: playing (You heard them in the middle of the action as you walked past.)
3. Did you see that moto _______ right through the red light? It was so fast! (go / going)
   Answer: go (This emphasizes the short, completed, shocking action.)
4. The suspect was seen _______ into a white car after the robbery. (to get / getting)
   Answer: getting (The passive form with an action in progress. 'was seen to get' would imply they saw the whole action of getting in and closing the door.)
5. I felt a spider _______ up my arm! (crawl / crawling)
   Answer: crawling (You felt it while it was in the middle of the action.)

📝 Homework: Describe What You Perceive

Write a sentence for each situation using a verb of perception and the correct following verb form.

1. You watched a complete football match on TV from the first minute to the last.
   (Example: I watched Cambodia play a fantastic match last night.)
   _________________________________________
2. You looked out your window and saw your neighbours in the middle of arguing.
   (Example: I saw my neighbours arguing in their garden.)
   _________________________________________
3. You felt one drop of rain fall on your head.
   (Example: I felt a drop of rain fall on my head.)
   _________________________________________

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Verbs of Perception: (Noun Phrase) - កិរិយាស័ព្ទនៃការទទួលรู้ (kĕ'rĭ'ya'sâp ney kaa tô'tuəl'ruə) - Verbs related to the five senses (see, hear, feel, watch, notice). ↩
2. Base Infinitive: (Noun Phrase) - កិរិយាស័ព្ទដើមគ្មាន 'to' (kĕ'rĭ'ya'sâp daem k'mean 'to') - The infinitive form of a verb without the word 'to'. ↩
3. Present Participle: (Noun Phrase) - ទម្រង់ -ing (tŭm'rɔng -ing) - The -ing form of a verb. ↩
4. Complete Action: (Noun Phrase) - សកម្មភាពពេញលេញ (sâ'kâm'mâ'phéap penh'lenh) - An action that is seen or heard from its beginning to its end. ↩
5. Action in Progress: (Noun Phrase) - សកម្មភាពកំពុងដំណើរការ (sâ'kâm'mâ'phéap kâmpŭng dâm'naeu'kaa) - An action that is in the middle of happening. ↩